Click the Lexus LS600h for a high res gallery

It must be nice to be Sir Paul McCartney. Lexus offered to give the über-famous Beatles front-man a brand new car. He settled on an LS600H, the hybrid flagship of the Lexus brand. According to a source familiar with the matter, Paul "ordered the hybrid limo because it helps to reduce emissions." Those emissions took a giant leap forward before Sir Paul even got behind the wheel, as the vehicle was delivered by plane. The estimated carbon footprint of the trip comes to 38,050kg, which, for perspective, is ten times what it would have been if the Lexus had been delivered by boat. Put another way, according to Co2balance.com Director Mike Rigby, "That is the equivalent of driving the car around the world six times." Even the air freight shipping company was surprised, with a spokesman quoted as saying, "Obviously we were happy for the business but everyone was shocked. The carbon footprint must be enormous." McCartney is reportedly rather unhappy about the chosen method for delivery. Thanks for the tip, Pat!

[Source: New Car Net, The Telegraph]

Click the Lexus LS600h for a high res gallery

We don't often get the chance to be chauffeured around in the backs of super-luxurious cars. Sure, we occasionally have ridden around in the belly of a limo for weddings and what not, but those rentals are nothing like the real thing. According to The Chauffeur magazine, the best £50,000 to £100,000 car to be driven in is a hybrid, the Lexus LS 600h L to be exact. Powered by a hybridized V8 engine, the long-wheelbase Lexus flagship's rear seat is surely a nice place to sit back and relax, but one of the reasons the vehicle was chosen has to do with its economy... fuel economy that is. Sure, the reclining rear seats with shiatsu massage may have had something to do with the choice, but it's the fuel economy that really seals the deal in Lexus' favor, right? Anyone?

Be sure to check out our review of the extended-length Lexus hybrid. The full press release from Lexus is after the break.

The Lexus LS 600h is already the most expensive production hybrid vehicle ever with the recently announced US price of $104,000. But when the new hybrid LS hits the UK this fall it will be starting at £81,400 or $164,000 at the current exchange rate. The flagship Lexus mates a 5.0L V-8 with the latest version of Toyota's hybrid system and all-wheel drive to give performance meant to approach that of the German V-12 sedans from Mercedes and BMW. However, the LS is rated at 20/22mpg city/hwy as compared to 11/17mpg for a Mercedes S600.

[Source: Lexus GB]

It's not newly revealed and it doesn't feature a heretofore secret powertrain, but one of the features of the Lexus booth in Geneva will be the LS 600h with V8 hybrid powertrain. One new aspect will be the LS 600h L, Lexus' first long wheelbase model, which gives rear seat passengers more room (and a reclining seat).

The LS 600h's fuel consumption is 29.7mpg and CO2 emissions are 220g/km.

Lexus' real focus in Geneva will be on the European introduction of the high-performance F-marque embodied by the new IS-F sports saloon and LF-A supercar concept. Details on these not-so green luxury vehicles are after the jump.

Related:

• Chicago Auto Show: Video of the Lexus LS600h hybrid drive-train
• Lexus is charging up their hybrid marketing

[Source: Lexus]